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Women Athletes Are Seizing Their Moment
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It used to be that women athletes were exceptions.
In order to exist at all they had to prove they were good enough to be the one woman who could train with the men. They had to sue for opportunities to play. They had to practice in old jerseys and in run-down gyms. They had to work full-time jobs on top of their full-time jobs to pay for the sport that defined them. They had to let the jokes about their bodies and their talent on sitcoms and Saturday Night Live and in school hallways roll off their backs. They had to sneak into men’s only races, or start their own sports leagues, or file lawsuits against federations that paid them less just because of their gender.
But none of the powerhouse athletes in this issue knew a time when women’s sports were nonexistent, or against the rules, or banned altogether. Title IX and the Battle of the Sexes were ancient history by the time they were all joining their first toddler gym classes. Serena and Venus Williams were already household names and the ’99ers had proven that women’s soccer could pack stadiums and make Sports Illustrated covers in time for these girls to hang their posters on their childhood bedroom walls.
Today, all of those exceptions have made way for a generation of women athletes to come pouring through that shattered glass ceiling—and these women are pushing the sports world, and culture in general, forward with abandon.
Just having women athletes to look up to was enough for some of these women to pursue sports themselves. When Suni Lee was 6, she watched clips of the 2008 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team endlessly, then tried to mimic the moves she saw at home. “I started breaking stuff and doing flips on the bed, and finally my mom got sick of it and just put me in gymnastics,” says Lee. Today she has six Olympic medals, including an all-around gold in Tokyo.
Those same ’08 Games are a vivid memory for heptathlete Anna Hall. Since her dad coached track and field, Hall and her sisters gathered around excitedly to watch every event. They saw a young Allyson Felix shine, but another moment caught her attention, too: when Lolo Jones, the favorite for the 100-meter hurdles, clipped a hurdle and lost her lead, missing out on the podium altogether. “I think seeing everyone’s reaction to something bad happening at the Olympics made me realize how big it was,” Hall says.
And that bigness called to her. “That was when I was first like, O.K., this is what I want to do. I’m gonna go there. It just felt really important.” She was only 7 at the time, but this past summer, at 23, Hall made that dream come true in Paris, representing Team USA in the heptathlon.
When Jordan Chiles was first starting in gymnastics, she idolized Shawn Johnson and was told she could be the next Gabby Douglas. Before long, she was competing alongside some of her idols. “I was the youngest national team member, so I was able to see the dedication and passion they brought to the sport,” Chiles says. She has been embraced by the older generation and pushed the new generation forward, as a two-time Olympic medalist with a flair for tattoos and pop music. Her collegiate floor routines have become consistently viral videos, and in March she was named one of Time’s Women of the Year.
While earlier generations of women athletes often had to hide their love for sports or their burgeoning athleticism because even their own families would call it unladylike, Gen Z athletes were often raised by parents who wanted to enjoy sports with their kids. Freestyle skier Eileen Gu’s mom first put her in ski school at Lake Tahoe when she was 3. “Mom really loved to ski, so she would drive four hours away to Tahoe,” says Gu. “And I’m an only child, so she thought ski school was better than babysitting, because I got to be athletic and socialize with other kids.” Her mom gets to ski a lot more now, because she accompanies Gu, 21, around the world while she competes. This year, Gu, who has two Olympic gold medals, added to her haul by capturing her 18th World Cup event, making her the winningest free skier ever—woman or man.
Cameron Brink, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, knew basketball was a possible career path long before she started playing at age 12. Brink’s mother worked at Nike, bringing in the first era of female basketball players to the brand. “You can feel a shift, when you have those women to look up to,” says the Los Angeles Sparks forward. “Playing basketball for a living is a huge privilege, but none of this would have happened without the women before us.”
As the children of two professional tennis players, Nelly Korda and her two older siblings were encouraged to be athletic. “I started playing sports when I started walking, it’s just always something I’ve done. But our parents didn’t want us to feel like we had to play tennis, they wanted us to find what we were passionate about,” Korda says. It was her older sister Jessica’s interest in golf that got Korda and the rest of the family on the green. “Golf was a game we could all do together. You can be chill and have fun, and then if you are serious it can be intense,” she says. Soon enough, Korda followed in her sister’s footsteps and took golf very seriously, joining the LPGA tour at age 18. Today, she’s the top-ranked women’s golfer in the world.
Becoming an elite athlete wasn’t on Gabby Thomas’s radar as a child. But she was encouraged by her mom to try any sport she wanted: horseback riding, basketball, tennis, gymnastics and soccer. “Sports became a strong part of my identity and shaped who I am,” Thomas says. Ultimately her speed got her a scholarship to Harvard, and ultimately a professional and Olympic career.
Raised in Florida, Caroline Marks was most comfortable in the ocean. She also loved to hang out with her older brothers. So when they learned to surf, she followed. She won her first big trophy at an amateur competition in California. “I just remember getting this big trophy and thinking, This is the best thing ever. I just did what I love to do the most and regardless of where this is going to go, I just never want to stop doing this. Surfing is gonna be a part of my life forever,” she says. So far, the 2024 Olympic gold medalist has continued to find that joy and success on the waves.
Ali Truwit grew up in the water, too. But for her, it was a pool in Connecticut. She was a swim team kid who was constantly surrounded by competitive swimmers, some of whom would become Olympians. “I would always use them as inspiration,” Truwit says. The joy she felt in the water is what kept her training, which ultimately secured her a spot on Yale’s swim team. Just days after her college graduation, though, a shark attacked her and a friend while they were snorkeling and Truwit became a lower-leg amputee. But the empowerment and joy she’d found in the pool helped her embrace her body. “There were all these unknowns about what life without a limb is like, but swimming was such a valuable tool for me, because it was something that I could reclaim,” she says. Just a year after her accident Truwit was competing at the highest level—winning two medals at the 2024 Paralympics.
When Toni Breidinger was a kid in northern California, she tried gymnastics, piano and a bunch of other activities, but nothing really stuck. When her dad saw a billboard on the side of the road in Sonoma advertising a racetrack, he thought he would take Toni and her twin sister, Annie, to try a go-kart class. She was immediately hooked. They raced go-karts until Toni was 15, when she started to get opportunities to try out race cars. The thrill of driving, and winning, kept her moving up through the sport. Today, Breidinger holds the record for the most top-10 finishes in any NASCAR circuit by a woman, with 27.
The women athletes coming up today are fully cognizant of how far the sports world has come, and how far there still is to go toward gender equality.
In the traditionally male-dominated world of professional surfing, Marks got to compete in the first event to offer equal prize money for the men’s and women’s winners, at the 2019 Boost Mobile Pro in Australia. “I used to go out and there used to be hardly any girls just surfing, but now it’s like just as many girls are out there as guys,” she says.
The same thing is happening in other sports, as women’s purses catch up to men’s. But these athletes are anything but content, and it’s about more than money. Korda wants to see women’s golf on prime-time TV. Breidinger is hosting events for girls to get more women drivers to join her in NASCAR—she’s the only one in the Craftsman Truck Series this year, out of 35 drivers. And Truwit hopes the representation for amputee athletes increases with the explosion in coverage of women athletes in general. “The more you see people with differences doing these amazing things, the more you can see yourself in those places, too,” she says. “There’s still so much room to grow.”
Last June, Brink tore her ACL, ending her rookie season early. But undergoing surgery and doing rehab for the better part of a year gave her time to think about the WNBA in a big-picture way. “None of this would have happened without Sheryl Swoopes and all those women who came before. My rookie class, we say the same thing: We want the girls after us to have it even better,” says Brink.
How? Brink has her eye on salary increases and better benefits. And since endorsements are where most players make significant money, she hopes more diverse players get the kind of recognition she and her peers have. “Where are the endorsements for [the vets]?” says Brink. “Especially my teammates that are Black, that are gay, that use they/them pronouns. There’s a privilege that some of the rookies have in being younger and coming in at a good time, and a privilege of looking a certain way. There are women in the league that deserve more recognition, it’s just that simple: They deserve more.”
Women athletes dominated headlines and medal podiums last summer in Paris, a trend that has been brewing for the past several Olympics. In 2024, women made up 50% of the athletes at the Games for the first time in history. But the gymnasts and track stars there, who usually get their moment on a Wheaties box once every four years, also started to notice a more sustained interest than before.
Thomas, who was featured heavily in Netflix’s docuseries Sprint in the lead-up to the Games and then went on to win three gold medals in Paris, sees this momentum as fuel (a public health professional, she also works part-time at a volunteer health clinic in Austin, Texas, where she trains). “It’s so helpful and motivating for me to be in an era of sport like this, where women have so much purpose and we’re fighting for so much more than just what’s on the field or the track,” Thomas says. “It’s about making a difference to increase access and equity in our sport. That’s such a great moment to be part of.”
Lee and Chiles embody the change in what it means to be a gymnast today. When Lee was first starting out, she was shocked by how serious competitions were. Strict, abusive coaching styles were all too common, and the athletes were forced into harmfully rigid ideas about their bodies and how they should look. Few gymnasts had careers once they went through puberty. “Being a gymnast in a lot of people’s eyes was a white girl with a ponytail and I didn’t look like any of them,” says Chiles.
In the past decade, however, national team members have bravely spoken out about the abusive coaching and environments they experienced, and the U.S. team has gotten older, stronger, healthier and more competitive. “I’m definitely stronger now than I was when I was younger,” Chiles says. “And I’ve accepted the fact it’s O.K. to be older in this sport.” Fans certainly have embraced that. At the Paris Games Lee says she felt like a rock star. “It was just the best feeling in the world to see that people actually cared about it,” she says.
The freedom, joy, and support enjoyed by today’s U.S. gymnasts has undeniably made the sport more fun to watch, and Lee wants that for all women athletes. “I feel like right now women are dominating in sports,” she says. “It’s such an amazing thing to see and it’s so exciting to watch. I feel like it can only get better from here.”
10The 2026 World Athletics Cross-Country Championships is set to kick off very soon, and it’s back on United States soil for the first time since 1992.
All eyes will be on Appalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida, starting at 9:45am EST.
2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships Schedule (ET)
- 9:45am – 4x2k Mixed Relay
- 10:20am – U20 Women’s 6k
- 10:55am – U20 Men’s 6k
- 11:35am – Senior Women’s 10k
- 12:20am – Senior Men’s 10k
Senior Men — Live Updates
12:50pm – HAT TRICK!
Jacob Kiplimo secures his third cross-country world title in a row; Aregawi takes silver once again with Ebenyo in third.
Parker Wolfe in 11th for the United States!
Ethiopia secures the Senior Men’s title with 30 points ahead of Kenya (34), and Uganda (39). The United States fourth with 81 points.
12:47pm – Kiplimo Breaks Away
Jacob Kiplimo has now put up a huge surge to break away from Aregawi and the field, who is now 8 seconds behind him at the 9km mark.
12:45pm – Bell Lap
Jacob Kiplimo currently leads the charge and looks like he’s ready to break away from the field; 22:56 through 8km.
12:42pm – 7km
Through 7km, Kiplimo hasn’t quite broken away from the chasers yet as Ebenyo, Mehary, and Aregawi are right on his tail going into the closing stages of the race.
12:40pm – Kiplimo Leads
Jacob Kiplimo now takes the lead with a 17:14 6km split.
Daniel Ebenyo of Kenya in second and Tadese Worku of Ethiopia in third.
12:35pm – Team Scores After 5km
Ethiopia – 16
Uganda – 31
Kenya – 41
United States in 4th with 90
12:33pm – Tadese To The Front
Tadese Worku of Ethiopia now in the lead but 8 men on his shoulder after 4km.
Wesley Kiptoo continues to lead the U.S. in 13th.
12:27pm – Kiptoo Leads The Charge
One of Wesley Kiptoo’s signature, the American currently is front-running the race with 5:39 though the first 2k. Dan Kibet of Uganda in second and Ky Robinson of Australia in third.
12:22pm – Men’s Start
The final race of the day is now off with the Senior Men; United States’ Parker Wolfe takes it out with the leaders
12:16pm – No Rocky Hansen
Reports came out this morning that Rocky Hansen has withdrawn from the championships due to injury
Senior Women — Live Updates
`12:07pm – Ngetich Wins, Ethiopia Secures Team Gold
Agnes Ngetich storms to one of the biggest margins of victory in World Cross Country history, Joy Cheptoyek in second, Senayet Getachew in third.
Ethiopia scores 19 to secure the Senior Women’s Team Title.
12:01pm – Ngetich Continues To Dominate
Agnes Ngetich splits 8km in 25:02, 35-second lap on the field.
11:55am – Ngetich Opens 31-Second Lead
Going into the penultimate lap, Agnes Ngetich splits 18:31 though 6km and holds a 31 second lead over Cheptoyek and Getachew who are currently battling for the silver medal.
11:52am – Team Scores
Current team scores through 5km
Ethiopia – 18
Uganda – 33
Kenya – 42
United States – 70
11:48am – Ngetich The Lone Leader
Agnes Ngetich splits 12:12 for 4km; Joy Cheptoyek in second and Senayek Getachew in third.
Ethiopia currently in first with 18 points.
11:44am – Ngetich Breaks Away
Agnes Ngetich splits 9:06 through 3km, opens up a 6 second lead on the chase pack.
11:42am — First Lap
Agnes Ngetich, Senayet Getachew, Asayech Getachew, Joy Cheptoyek break away from the field going into the second lap. 6:03 through 2km.
11:39am — Ngetich Early Lead
Agnes Ngetich of Kenya currently leads the field through 1km in 2:55, Ethiopia’s Ayechew and Getachew 2-3.
United States’ Weini Kelati currently in 11th.
11:37am — Early Lead-Pack, Race Strung.
600m into the race, there’s about 6 women in the lead pack with the rest of the field already being strung out on the first lap.
11:31am — No Beatrice Chebet
No Beatrice Chebet means the title is up for grabs; Agnes Ngetich is looking as the favorite to secure her first cross-country world-title.
Under-20 Men — Live Updates
11:19am — Kenya Secures Hat-Trick
Team Kenya secures a third consecutive team title and a scoring sweep going 1-2-3-4 with Kibet, Kiprono, Alamisi, and Kiptoo.
Uganda in second with their 4 in the top-10.
11:15am — Kenya 1-2-3
Kenya are currently en route to potentially sweep the podium with Emmanuel Kiprono, Frankline Kibet, Andrew Alamisi.
11:08am — 4km Updates
A huge lead pack still holds of mostly Kenyans and Ugandans
Andrew Kiptoo of Kenya in first with 11:57; the entire top-10 currently holds Kenya/Uganda with Ethiopia’s Sewnet in the field.
11:04am — 3km Updates
Belgium’s Willem Renders has been awarded the lead spot with 3 other men also at 8:56 through 3km; Aidan Torres in 20th to lead the United States team.
11:02am — Renders in front, Kenya/Uganda making up the pack.
After the first lap, Belgium’s Willem Renders leads a huge pack of Kenyans and Ugandas in 5:49.
10:57am — Early Leaders
All 6 Kenyans are in the lead pack of the U20 men
10:55am — U20 Men Start
The U20 Men are now officially off and running in Tallahassee
Under-20 Women — Live Updates
10:45am — Team Placements
1 – Uganda – 29
2 – Kenya – 29
3 – Japan – 87
United States in fourth.
10:40am — Alemayo secures gold, Ethiopia 1-2.
Alemayo storms to a successful title defense with teammate Wosane Asefa in second.
Uganda manages to slot their scoring 4 in the top-10 to secure the U20 Women Team Title.
16-year-old Blair Bartlett in 16th to lead the United States.
10:36am — Alemayo Breaks Away
Marta Alemayo breaks away from the entire field going into the final lap, teammate Wosane Asefa in second with Kenya’s Cynthia Chepkirui right on her shoulder ~ 15:42 at the 5km mark.
10:31am — Top-3
Alemayo, Chepkirui, Asefa are currently the 1-2-3
10:28am — Alemayo secures the lead
Ethiopia’s Alemayo now has taken the lead and strung out the pack
10:26am — First 2km
The lead pack take the first 2km in 6:15; mixed with Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya.
United States’ Blair Bartlett not too far behind.
10:23am — Alemayo on Title Defense
Defending champion, Alemayo of Ethiopia, currently is leading a huge pack in the early minutes of the race.
4x2km Mixed Relay — Live Updates
10:10am — Australia Wins Gold
Australia takes the gold in the 4x2km Relay in dominant fashion; France in second, Ethiopia in third.
The United States finishes in fifth.
10:05am — Jessica Hull Opens Lead
Jessica Hull is slowly opening a lead on the final leg of the 4x2km relay, with about a 10-meter gap so far ahead of second.
10:03am — Jessica Hull Takes Handoff
Jessica Hull of Australia now has gotten the handoff for Team Australia!
The French opted for a further-up 4th-leg start from the exchange.
United States hand-off in third.
10:01am — United States Back In Medal Hunt
The United States are now back in medal contention as Wes Porter is shoulder-to-shoulder with Team Kenya on the closing seconds of the third-leg.
9:57am — Anstey Continues To Lead
Hall hands off to Jack Anstey who continues to hold the lead for Australia, with France sneaking their way in second and South Africa now in third.
Anstey holds a commanding lead with France’s Senard with him; South Africa 6 seconds behind.
9:54am — Australia Leads
Linden Hall storms to the lead for Australia during the second-leg of the 4x2km relay, and manages to shake off Kenya in second after a bit of a stumble on an obstacle.
9:51am — Kenya, USA 1-2
At the first exchange, Kenya and the United States are currently 1-2 at the handoff; France and Australia are also in the mix.
9:50am — Strand Leads
Ethan Strand reclaims the lead for the United States after the obstacles at ‘Alligator Alley’
9:48am — Kick-Off
Early on it looks like an early lead for Team Ethiopia but United States’ Ethan Strand remains right on their shoulder.
9:44am — Late Entry/Scratch
A late addition to the field as Japan joins the ranks while Morocco scratches.
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Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Indoor Track Building)
Event: Wolverine Invitational
U-M Team Finish: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 17 — host, Simmons-Harvey Invitational (U-M Indoor Track Building), TBA
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan men’s track and field team opened its 2026 home slate on Saturday (Jan. 10), hosting the Wolverine Invitational in the U-M Indoor Track Building, with junior John O’Reilly setting the U23 Canadian National Record in the 600-meter dash.
The Wolverines went 1-2 in the event, with Miles Brown winning (1:16.27) and O’Reilly finishing second (1:16.52). In addition to being the U23 Canadian National Record, the time also comes in at No. 2 on the program performers list.
In the 800-meter run, the Maize and Blue took the top five spots. Camden Law finished first (1:49.00), freshman Henry Dixon finished second (1:49.37), Riley Flemington finished third (1:50.22), Jonathan Miles finished fourth (1:52.20) and Marcus Reilly finished fifth (1:52.53).
Transfer Jake Machiniak ran a personal best 6.82 seconds in the 60-meter dash prelims, advancing to the finals and finishing fifth (6.84). Neil Howard qualified for the 60-meter hurdles finals with a preliminary time of 8.36, finishing seventh (8.27) overall.
Freshman Quincy Isaac finished first in the long jump in his collegiate debut, posting a mark of 7.85 meters (25 feet, 9.25 inches) to come in at No. 2 on the program performers list. The mark is just 0.04m shy of the program record.
Cole Sheldon and Liam Kinney went 2-3 in the pole vault, clearing 4.90m (16-0.74) and 4.75m (15-7), respectively.
Sophomore Josh Huisman took the top spot in the shot put (17.45m, 57-3) before finishing fourth in the weight throw (17.06m, 55-11.75), while freshman Peter Donini finished second in the shot put with a mark of 16.56m (54-4) in his Wolverine debut.
Michigan will remain at home to host the Simmons-Harvey Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the U-M Indoor Track Building.
Jaden DeSouza earned first place overall in the 800 meters with her new personal best of 2:08.16, making her the fourth fastest athlete at that distance in program history. The win marks the graduate student’s second consecutive first place finish in the event this season.
Freshman Alexys Carlson took first place in weight throw with a mark of 15.12 meters (49′ 7¼”), breaking the program record that she set just last month.
In her first collegiate track and field meet, fellow freshman Maya Crimin delivered strong performances in both the mile and the 3000 meters. Crimin secured second place in the mile with a time of 5:14.95. The freshman also placed second in the 3000 meters finishing in 10:42.54.
For full results from the Silver and Blue Invitational click here.
The Gaels will return to the track on January 16th and 17th at the UW Preview in Seattle, Washington.
#GaelsRise
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Union College women’s track & field team started the 2026 portion of its indoor season on Saturday at the non-scoring Snowflake Invitational, hosted by Middlebury College at Virtue Field House.
The Garnet Chargers finished the day with six top-five finishes as well as three season-bests and two career-best results.
Sophomore Kyleigh Record earned a win in the 800 meters, leading a trio of top-five finishes in the event. She qualified for the Liberty League Championships with a top time of 2:27.18, which placed her less than five seconds ahead of first-year Eilis McKenna (2:31.77) for top honors in the 15-runner field. Sophomore Charlotte Knight also placed in the top-five with a 2:43.06 finish.
Union earned a pair of top-four finishes in the mile, with junior Annabel Dobash and first-year Kate Monaco placing third and fourth, respectively. Dobash finished third in 5:30.47, followed closely by Monaco in a season-best 5:31.75. Sophomore Isla Langsdorf also finished in eighth place with a time of 6:06.09.
Junior Ashley Sheldon was the team’s top finisher in the 200-meter dash, finishing the half-lap in 28.21 seconds to place seventh out of 38 runners. Junior Kat Doran finished 13th in the 200 with a time of 28.77 seconds and also led Union in the 60-meter dash, crossing the line 11th in 8.47 seconds.
First-year Benny Pierre Louis represented Union in the 60-meter hurdles, finishing ninth in 10.78 seconds.
The Garnet Chargers also placed fifth in the 4×400-meter relay, with the foursome of Record, McKenna, Monaco and first-year Leah Scopteuolo-Rosen finishing in 4:33.48.
Scopteuolo-Rosen had the team’s top finish in the field events, matching her season-best in the high jump by clearing 1.43 meters to place sixth. Sophomore Lauryn Johnson posted the best shot put of her career, finishing 18th with a top mark of 8.63 meters to lead the team. Junior Epephanie LaBoy was the Garnet Chargers’ top finisher in the weight throw with a mark of 10.10 meters that earned her a 13th-place finish.
Union will be back in action on Friday at the Utica Winter Opener.
Sports
Mountaineers Tally Nine First-Place Finishes at UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International
MILL SPRING, N.C. – The App State women’s track and field team rounded out competition at the UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International with nine first-place finishes. The Mountaineers also went 1-2-3 in four events on Saturday.
On the track, junior Jayla Adams placed first in the women’s 300 meters with a personal best of 38.70, which was 0.20 shy of the school record of 38.50, set in 2013 by Breanna Alston. Adams, whose previous best was 39.00, remains second all-time in the event. Senior Damyja Alejandro-Ortiz took second with a time of 39.24, which elevated her to fifth in the App State all-time list. Juniors Nicole Wells and Kendall Johnson placed third (39.49) and fourth (40.51), respectively. Earlier in the day, Adams, Johnson, and Wells advanced to the women’s 60-meter finals, where they placed third (7.62), fourth (7.66), and fifth (7.72), respectively.
In the women’s 600 meters, freshman Josie Jackson, sophomore Savannah Moore, and senior Addison Ollendick-Smith took the top-three spots with times of 1:37.26 (PR), 1:38.12, and 1:40.83, respectively. Jackson rose to third all-time in the record book for the event. The trio also went 1-2-3 in the women’s 800 meters, with Jackson clocking another personal best, 2:17.06, to place first. Ollendick-Smith secured second with a time of 2:17.18 and Moore placed third, stopping the clock at 2:20.71.
Freshmen Tessa Massa and Elizabeth McCart set pace for the Mountaineers in the mile, placing first and second with personal bests of 5:11.23 and 5:11.53, respectively. With a time of 10:26.91, sophomore Breanna Budzinski placed first in the women’s 3,000 meters. Junior Mary Biagini followed close behind, stopping the clock at 10:36.78 to place second, while freshman Ashby Williams rounded out the top three with a time of 10:37.63.
In the women’s long jump, freshman Alana Braxton landed first with a personal best of 5.98m (19′ 7.5″), which moved her to ninth in the App State all-time list. Fellow freshman Ashlynn Wimberly registered a first-place finish of her own with a leap of 12.38m (40′ 7.5″) in the women’s triple jump.
The Mountaineers took the top two spots in the women’s pole vault as senior Ava Studney cleared a bar of 3.79m (12′ 5.25″) to place first and sophomore Abigail Goetz landed second with a clearance of 3.49m (11′ 5.25″).
With a toss of 16.89m (55′ 5″), sophomore Emily Edwards placed first in the women’s weight throw. Edwards also placed third in the women’s shot put with a mark of 12.30m (40′ 4.25″).
Up Next
The Mountaineers will travel to Lexington, Va. for the VMI Team Challenge on Jan. 17.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University track and field programs recorded four event wins and seven personal bests at the Wolverine Invitational, hosted by the University of Michigan, Saturday, Jan. 10.
How it Happened – Men
The men were highlighted by three event wins. Kayenn Mabin (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Central) won the 60m hurdles final with a time of 7.89, winning the event in consecutive meets after taking first place at the Grand Valley State University Holiday Open, Dec. 5.
Tanner Schick (Mount Dora, Fla./Mount Dora Christian Academy) earned his first collegiate event win in the high jump with a mark of 2.03m (6-08.00), a mark that is now ranked 68th in Division I.
Earning the third event win for the Eagles was Jake McEachern (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive), as he took first place in the weight throw with an 18.85m (61-10.25) toss. Following McEachern in the top spots of the weight throw were both Demarrio Roetherford and Ray Glory-Ejoyokah (Southfield, Mich./Wylie E. Groves) who threw 18.53m (60-09.50) and 17.27m (56-08.00) marks to take second and third place, respectively. Roetherford’s toss of 18.53m (60-09.50) marks a personal best.
Three Eagles set personal bests in the 300m, as Bamidele Ajayi (Eikiti State, Nigeria/Metropolitan International College) finished second in 34.14, Mabin ran a time of 34.97 (8th), and Michael Hawkins (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical) ran the race in 35.33. Hawkins saw another personal best at the meet in the 60m hurdles final, finishing fourth with a time of 8.06.
In the shot put, Lukas Ray (Lincoln Park, Mich./Wyandotte Roosevelt) earned a top-three finish with a season best throw of 15.88m (52-01.25).
How it Happened – Women
The women were highlighted by Mariah Taylor (East Lake, Fla./East Lake), as she won the triple jump with a 12.10m (39-08.50) mark. Taylor’s jump now stands as the 56th top mark in the NCAA, along with holding spot No. 49 in Division I standings.
Eastern’s women saw three top-five finishes, including Micah Martin (Clinton Township, Mich./L’anse Creuse) earning fourth place in the high jump with a 1.68m (5-06.00) jump, Megan Rybitski (Dayton, Ohio/Wayne) took fourth place in the pole vault with a season best 3.70m (12-01.50) jump, and Demetria Henderson (Tampa, Fla./Freedom) ran the 600m in 1:33.91 to take fourth place. Also in the 600m was Sophie Emin (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) who followed shortly behind Henderson with a personal best time of 1:36.02 (6th).
EMU Individual Results
*Denotes Personal Best
Men’s Results
60m Hurdles
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